The Portland daily press., 1887-04-12
AN INvINcIRLE SIX.
The Small Bass Disappearing from
WInnegance Creek.
Especial to the Press.l

Especial to the Press
BATH, April 1.-THE illegal fishing at VIM
negance Creek continues to create great ex-
element, not only in the village bat in all
the surrounding country.
The facts of the case are these: Winnie
gance is charming little village about three
miles out Of Bath, the aspect Of which is so
extremely harmless and sleepy that it is with
surprise one learns it is the scene Of such
outrages against all law in respect to the fish
ing business. From the waters of the Ken
nebec great numbers of bass retreat flor the
winter to the creek which takes its name
from the village. This delights the fisher
man beyond measure and he at once pre-
pares to become second Cresus on a small
scale. Now these facts make the field so
tempting to fishers other than those of the
village, that the creek became crowded with
fishermen from the surrounding country,
wnich state OF matters much aggrieyed the
natives OF Winnegance. They fled to the
law for justice and secured the passage of
law declaring that between the dates of Jan.
Isl and March 1st bass fishing should be con-
sldered illegal; furthermore that the use of
nets less than inch mesh should be contra
~ to law, and that offense in either partcu-
for each illegitimate fish, in addition to the
relentless confscation of these illegal nets
Immediately, in order to protect the Win
negance fishermen, and see that the law was
rlgldly carried into effect, a deputy warden
was appointed to overlook matters The
manner in which this said warden has been
hustled about, confined to his own premises.
In ambush by the willy lawbreakers, subject
ed to practical Jokes, and so on, would be su-
premely ridiculous, were 1t not for the gray-
fy M hn osRd h 1a..
and perfect deliberation with which these
men carry on their illegal traffic.
The disclosures. and seizures consequent
on the enforcement of the law served to star
tie and disperse all but six CT the men, and
these half dozen men are now bound by all
the laws OF secrecy and good fellowship to
stand by each other and defy the agents of
justice. They thus succeed in evading the
warden, and secure the monopoly of a very
valuable fishery trade The illegality of their
traffic lies in the following facts: in sublime
indifference to all that has been decreed in
regard to this trade in court, they calmly
continue their fishing each night, regardless
OF the warden and his aged assistant, using
nets OF 81 inch mesh, and capturing fish no
larger than trout, and weighing something
like six ounces. The result is that the creek
is being utterly despoiled Of all sizable bass,
and in another season there will be none
there, thus taking from worthy men their le-
gitimate occupation and depriving many
IdMllleS Oh tnelr sole means OF SuStenance,
The natural enquiry arises as to why the
law is not enforced and this outrage cut
short. A few facts IN the case Will readily
explain matters. This clique of men labor
hand in hand and in consequence work un-
molested. course of regular detective
work is carried on. Deputy Nichols can
make no movement toward their larrest, can
not even leave his house without the fact be-
ing discovered and instantly made known to
the fishers, who are constantly on the alert.
The old man, who has been appointed to as
slst the warden, on attempting to do duty as
spy was Immediately subjected to an un-
known force, returned to his fireside in a
most emphatic manner, and dared not again
venture forth on such perilous. business.
The warden's assistant, Mr.. Frisbee, sought
to conceal himself in the underbrush by the
side of the creek, and thus secure testimony
against these adro:t fishers. But one circum-
stance was against him,-he was addicted to
the use of tobacco, the odor was at once de-
tected by the men. the unhappy magistrate
dragged from his lurking place and sent
about more profitable business. The prac-
tice of these six mensis toltake their spoils
early to the city, and there ship them to New
York, where they bring from 10 to 40 cents
per pound.